Erik ten Hag has explained the position of Ajax against Besiktas. The trainer opts for the same eleven names as on Saturday against FC Groningen (3-0 win), which means that Steven Berghuis is preferred over Davy Klaassen as an attacking midfielder. Jan Boskamp said at RTL7 I can’t understand why the Ajax coach has chosen Berghuis in the starting eleven.
According to Ten Hag, there is no reason to put Berghuis on the bench as a result of his performance in recent weeks. “The fact that Davy has been out for three weeks and Steven is currently doing very well, made me choose Steven again,” said Ten Hag. “Berghuis has been important with goals and assists, so let it stand. He is doing excellent, making good progress. He also allows the team to play better football and has a high return.”
Ten Hag did not have to motivate his players for the duel with Besiktas, he indicated. “The players know what it is about. They know that we need six very good evenings to spend the winter in the Champions League. We discussed most things yesterday. We have made a plan, then the players can empathize. I think that it will soon start to swirl and that there will be a great interaction with the public. I hope that we can give a nice impulse,” said Ten Hag.
Berghuis’s starting spot came as a surprise to Jan Boskamp. “I did not expect Berghuis, to be honest,” said Boskamp at RTL7. “Besiktas gives away a lot of space in the back, Berghuis can put the balls down there. But if you have Klaassen, who thinks offensively and defensively. But I think he chose Berghuis because it is getting tight in terms of spaces.”
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